Analyzing the Declaration of Independence...The Declaration of Independence is an announcement to...

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Analyzing the Declaration of Independence

1.1 Welcome

Notes:

Welcome to “Analyzing the Declaration of Independence,” an online Civics tutorial for students in seventh grade.


1.2 Objective

Notes:

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to analyze the ideas and structure of the Declaration of Independence, one of the most famous documents in the history of the United States.

You’ll learn how Enlightenment ideas like natural rights and the social contract are an important part of the document.

You’ll understand the complaints set forth by Americans colonists against the British.

And you’ll recognize famous words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence and understand what they mean.

We have a lot to learn, so let’s begin!


1.3 Facts About the Declaration of Independence

Notes:

Let’s start by reviewing some important background information that you might already know.

The Declaration of Independence is an announcement to the world that the United States of America was a new nation, separate from the British Empire. Up until this point, the 13 original states had merely been colonies controlled by Great Britain.

The Declaration was written and adopted in 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The date that it was signed and ratified, July 4th, is known as Independence Day. It’s America's “birthday.”

Although it was the work of a committee, one man is usually recognized as the Declaration’s primary author: Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence and is responsible for many of its famous phrases and language.


1.4 What Led to the Declaration of Independence

Notes:

Why did Americans feel the need to declare their independence? Let’s briefly review.

Thomas Jefferson and the others who wrote the Declaration were American colonists influenced by the new philosophies of the Enlightenment. Enlightenment thinkers disagreed with the old system of monarchy - rule by a king - and promoted a new idea known as the “Social Contract.” This is the belief that an agreement exists between government and the people who are governed. If the government breaks that contract, the people have the right to establish a new, better government in its place.

By 1776, Americans felt that the government of Great Britain, including its king, had broken that contract. For more than 10 years, the British had taken more and more control over their American colonies. They passed taxes that colonists considered unjust and illegal. They refused to give Americans a voice in the government process. And they practiced harsh military rule in places like Massachusetts.

At first, colonists tried protesting and speaking out for their rights. They believed that the British government had broken the social contract and lost its right to govern them. Then the conflict turned bloody: war between British and American soldiers began in 1775. A year later, Jefferson and other colonial leaders voted to declare independence.


1.5 Practice

Notes:

Before we move on, let’s review what you learned about the people, events, and ideas that led to the Declaration of Independence.

Show what you know by clicking on all of the true statements. When you’ve found them all, click Submit to check your answers.

Correct Choice

NO Conflict between Americans and the British began after the Declaration of

Independence was signed.

YES Thomas Jefferson and other American leaders were influenced by Enlightenment

ideas.

NO George Washington was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

YES A belief that the British government had broken its social contract with American

colonists inspired the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

YES The Declaration of Independence announced to the world that the United States

was a new nation, separate from Great Britain.

Feedback when correct:


Great job! You have a solid understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the ideas

that were on the minds of its authors.

Feedback when incorrect:

The correct answers are shown here. Thomas Jefferson and others were inspired by the

Enlightenment in their belief that the British government had broken its social contract with

them. So the Declaration of Independence announced that the United States was a new nation.

As far as the wrong answers, conflicts between British and Americans began long before the

Declaration of Independence, not after. And George Washington didn’t write the Declaration —

he was too busy leading the Continental Army!


1.6 Introducing the Declaration

Notes:

The Declaration of Independence is not a long document. It originally fit on one large piece of paper, like you see here. The text might look like one huge paragraph, but it actually has four distinct parts.

The first part, the Preamble, explains the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. It says that the time has come for the American colonies to separate from Britain.

The second section is what we’ll call the Philosophy Statement. It explains the American view of government and the Enlightenment ideas of the social contract and natural rights.

The third section is a long list of grievances, or complaints. It lists examples of actions taken by Britain's government and king to establish total control, or tyranny, over the American colonies.

Finally, the document proudly declares American independence. It announces to the world that the former colonies are now the United States of America, with all the rights, powers, and privileges of other nations.

To see a famous quote from each section of the Declaration of Independence, click the rectangles. Click Next when you’re ready to move on.


1.7 Practice

Notes:

Let’s practice what you just learned. Drag the descriptions on the right to match the correct sections of the Declaration of Independence on the left. They should fit together like puzzle pieces. Click Submit when you have all the right matches.

Correct Choice

Part 1: Preamble Explains its purpose; announces separation

Part 2: Philosophy Explains Enlightenment views of social contract, natural rights

Part 3: List of Grievances Explains how British government and king have tried to establish

tyranny in America

Part 4: Declaration of

Independence

Proudly declares to the world that the former colonies are now an

independent nation


Excellent! These are the 4 parts of the Declaration of Independence.

We’ll look at each in more detail coming up.



The correct matches are shown here. These are the 4 parts of the Declaration of Independence.

We’ll look at each in more detail coming up.


1.8 The Preamble

Notes:

“Preamble” is another word for introduction. Important documents like the Declaration of Independence often have them. The Preamble of the Declaration explains that the time has come for the former colonies to break away from their mother country. Thomas Jefferson and the other authors realized what a big deal this was. In 1776, no colony had successfully broken away from its parent country - ever.

Our Founding Fathers sometimes used some complicated language to say what they meant, so if you’d like the Preamble broken down into simpler terms, click on the picture. Hover over the highlighted words or phrases to see what they mean.


1.9 Enlightenment Philosophy

Notes:

Next comes the Philosophy Statement. Here is where the Enlightenment ideas of Thomas Jefferson and the other authors are on full display. There are 2 big ideas you need to know about: Natural Rights, and the Social Contract.

First, Enlightenment thinkers believed that all humans are born with Natural Rights. “Natural” means that they come from nature. Every human being has them, and they don’t come from a king, or a ruler, or a government. They can’t be taken away, and they’re yours simply by being alive. These rights include life, liberty, human dignity, and the chance to find happiness.

People like Jefferson believed the whole point of having a government was to protect these rights. This leads to the theory of a social contract, which you've learned a little about already. This theory says that governments are like contracts made between those in charge and those they govern - the citizens. What if you signed a contract, and the other side broke it? Would you have to follow the broken contract? Probably not. This is the meaning of social contract theory. If a government fails to protect the people's natural rights, it has broken its contract with them. The people are then free to walk away from the contract - and make a better one!


1.10 The Philosophy Statement

Notes:

Here’s the Philosophy Statement. It contains some of the most famous words in the history of our country.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Let’s see how the ideas of natural rights and the social contract show up in these lines. The references to natural rights can be seen in yellow. Thomas Jefferson writes that all people are made the same, and that God and nature have given them certain undisputable rights: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

References to the social contract are seen in green. Jefferson writes that governments are created by - and get their powers from - the people. And it is the “right of the people” to replace their government with a new one if that’s what it takes to protect their rights.


Hover over the highlighted words or phrases to see what they mean.

Does all this sound logical to you? Remember that in 1776, these were revolutionary ideas.


1.11 Practice

Notes:

Let’s practice. For each quote, select which Enlightenment idea it refers to more: natural rights or the social contract.

Correct Natural Rights or Social Contract

NO Natural Rights -…to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among

deriving their powers from the consent of the governed

Men,

YES Social Contract - -…to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,

deriving their powers from the consent of the governed

YES Natural Rights- all men are created equal

NO Social Contract - all men are created equal

YES Natural Rights -

nature

Every human being is born with rights that come from God and

NO Social Contract -

nature

Every human being is born with rights that come from God and


Correct Natural Rights or Social Contract

YES Natural Rights - …they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

NO Social Contract - …they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

NO Natural Rights - Governments exist to protect the rights of the governed, and they

can be changed

YES Social Contract - Governments exist to protect the rights of the governed, and they

can be changed

NO Natural Rights - …it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute

new Government…

YES Social Contract- …it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute

new Government…


Well done! You have a strong understanding of the Enlightenment ideas found in the

Declaration of Independence.


The correct answers are shown here. Review this material carefully before moving on.


1.12 Practice

Notes:

This exercise may be a bit trickier. Click on the sentence that best summarizes all of the Enlightenment ideas about government explained in the Philosophy Statement. When you are ready to check your answer, click Submit.

Correct Choice

NO Everyone is born equal with the same rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness.

NO Governments are created to protect rights, and they receive their power from the

people.

NO People have the right to replace their government with one that does a better job

protecting their rights.

YES Since governments are established to protect the natural rights of the people, the

people can replace the government if it stops protecting those rights as it was

contracted to do.



Outstanding! You picked the most complete and correct summary from the choices provided.


The best answer is shown here. “Since governments are established to protect the natural rights

of the people, the people can replace the government if it stops protecting those rights as it was

contracted to do.” This is the most complete and correct summary of all the ideas found in the

Philosophy Statement.


1.13 The List of Grievances

Notes:

The next section of the Declaration of Independence is a long list of grievances. A grievance is a complaint or objection.

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these states.”

“A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

This section attempts to prove that the British government, and the king in particular, has abused the rights of American colonists. By far, this is the longest part of the Declaration, and it’s the part people tend to skip over when they read it today. We’ll keep it simple by looking in detail at just 5 of these grievances here.

Click on each of them for further information about what they mean.


1.14 Practice

Notes:

Which of these is not one of the grievances mentioned on the previous slide?

Correct Choice

NO Colonists have had their trade with other nations “cut off.”

NO Colonists have had their property and lives “destroyed.”

NO Colonists have had their lawmaking bodies “dissolved.”

YES Colonists have lost their right to “trial by jury.”

NO Colonists have had to play host to “standing armies.”

NO Colonists have been taxed “without their consent.”


Correct! This was not one of the grievances you already learned about. However, this complaint

is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: the authors accused the king of “depriving us,

in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.”



Here’s the correct answer. It wasn’t featured on the last slide. However, this complaint is

mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: the authors accused the king of “depriving us, in

many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.”


1.15 The Real Declaration of Independence

Notes:

Now we come to the final section. This conclusion is the actual Declaration of Independence. After having listed more than 25 grievances against the British government and king, Thomas Jefferson and the other authors proudly declare that from this moment on, the United States of America is an independent nation.

Here’s how they put it: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States…”

“That they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved…”

“And that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.”


1.16 Conclusion

Notes:

The Declaration concludes with these dramatic words that bound together those who signed it: “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

56 Americans signed the Declaration of Independence. You can see their signatures here-the largest one is that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress that produced the Declaration. These men were doing something bold and revolutionary by signing their names. To the king of England, they were all guilty of treason-and were now wanted men. The Declaration was not the end of Americans' struggle for independence. It was the beginning. It would take 7 more years, and a long and bloody war, for Great Britain to finally accept that its colonies were an independent nation.


1.17 Practice

Notes:

Let’s review everything you’ve learned. On the left are four famous quotes from the Declaration of Independence. You’ve heard, read, and analyzed them all already. On the right are the same ideas, paraphrased in simpler language. Put the matches together. Good luck!

Correct Choice

“They are endowed by their Creator with The rights to live free and be happy are the natural,

certain unalienable Rights, that among God-given rights of everyone.

these are life, liberty and the pursuit of

happiness.”

“To secure these rights, Governments are People establish governments, and give them

instituted among men, deriving their just power to rule over them, in exchange for

powers from the consent of the protection of their rights.

governed.”


Correct Choice

“Whenever any form of Government

becomes destructive of these ends, it is

the Right of the People to alter or abolish

it and to institute new Government.”

People have the right to change or replace their

government when it is not protecting their rights.

“All political connection between [these

colonies] and the State of Great Britain, is

and ought to be totally dissolved.”

The former colonies no longer have any connection

to Great Britain and are an independent nation.


Outstanding! You now recognize and know the meanings of some of the most famous words in

the Declaration of Independence.


The correct matches are shown here. Read each match in order to review this important

information before moving on.


1.18 Practice

Notes:

One last practice! Here are some excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. Drag them into the right sequence so they are in the order they are found in the document, from the Preamble to the end, first to last.

Correct Order

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the

political bands which have connected them with another…a decent respect to the opinions of

mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed

by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the

pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men…

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations…

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our

people.


Correct Order

These United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States… And for the

support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we

mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.


Yes! That’s the right order. You understand how the language and ideas of the Declaration of

Independence fit together. Click Continue to finish this tutorial in style!


The correct sequence is shown here. Review this important information before clicking Continue

to finish this tutorial.


1.19 Lesson Review

Notes:

In this tutorial, you learned about the ideas and the structure of the Declaration of Independence, one of America’s most famous documents. You learned about the Enlightenment ideas, like natural rights and the social contract, found in the Declaration, and about the grievances colonists had with the British.

The Declaration of Independence explains why Americans wanted to establish their own government.

It explains that all humans have rights, and that people have the right to change their government.

It lists numerous examples of how the British government had taken away the rights of Americans.

And it concludes by announcing a new nation: the United States of America.

It’s been a pleasure learning with you today!


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